Giants unleash secret weapon Adrian Tracy on defense

By ART STAPLETON

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

EAST RUTHERFORD – Adrian Tracy starts every positional meeting with the Giants by writing the same eight words at the top of the next blank page in his notebook.He has done that daily since the beginning of training camp, developing a bit of a personal mantra that has helped enhance his determination and focus along the way.

Defensive end Adrian Tracy has found a way to get off the bench and contribute in a big way for the Giants' defense.

Every player has a role. Define your role.

His motivation to do that finally crossed paths with opportunity in San Francisco on Sunday when, as a nod to Tracy’s versatility, Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell put a wrinkle into the team’s game plan specifically tailored to his skill set.

A breakout game for the linebacker-turned-defensive end resulted in what was an impressive 26-3 victory over the 49ers as Tracy moved back to his natural position of outside linebacker and seized the moment the way Fewell hoped he would.

The Giants mixed things up against San Francisco’s multi-faceted offense, using different looks such as a 4-4-3 alignment featuring Tracy at linebacker and having Mathias Kiwanuka play all but one of his 38 snaps in the game on the defensive line.

While Kiwanuka’s presence at defensive tackle and end – the position he played at Boston College – is something the Giants have tinkered with, even after moving him to linebacker last season, Tracy’s emergence in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship game spoke volumes about his potential.

“You keep seeing this big body in the meeting room and you say you’ve got to use the talent that you have in your room,” Fewell said of the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Tracy. “We just thought that if we created this role for him … we could gain some mileage. So he dropped a little bit, he rushed a little bit. … We would like to do some things like that with him going forward.”

Tracy played 12 snaps and finished with four tackles and a sack against the 49ers, carving out a niche for himself and in the process showing the Giants he can be more than a one-week wonder. With LB Jacquian Williams declared out for Sunday’s pivotal NFC East showdown against the Redskins, there is a chance Tracy will be asked to contribute in several different areas as the Giants attempt to stop rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III.

“They said they had that role for me and needed me to step up, and I did just that,” Tracy said of his performance against the 49ers. “I was put in that spot and told to make something happen. Obviously they gave me the opportunity to be out there on the field and I had to make the most of that opportunity. I knew my assignment at linebacker, run and pass, and it was just about going out there and playing.

“I was able to do that, make some plays and I was excited.”

Tracy was on the field against the 49ers primarily to help neutralize the run, which the Giants did in stunning fashion by shutting down Frank Gore and option quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The challenge will be even greater against Griffin III and rookie running back Alfred Morris, who have rushed for 917 combined yards – more than 29 other teams.

“We had a package where [Tracy] was ‘the guy’ and he did well,” Justin Tuck said. “This is something I hope that he can build on.”

Tracy has displayed patience this season, waiting for his chance behind the Giants’ assembly line of Pro Bowl ends Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora, not to mention Kiwanuka, who joined the mix on a more consistent basis.

“It’s not frustrating. I’m behind the best of the best at that position,” Tracy said. “And then you throw Kiwi in the mix, that’s makes five. So it’s not something that’s frustrating. I’m in a position where I’m able to learn from Pro Bowlers. I’m going to learn from seasoned veterans and soak up information you can’t get from X’s and O’s.

“I’m always in the guys’ ears and right now I’ve got to realize my position. When I’m needed, I’ll be ready. Until then, I’ll continue to learn and get better.”

Giants unleash secret weapon Adrian Tracy on defense

Defensive end Adrian Tracy has found a way to get off the bench and contribute in a big way for the Giants' defense.

By ART STAPLETON

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

EAST RUTHERFORD – Adrian Tracy starts every positional meeting with the Giants by writing the same eight words at the top of the next blank page in his notebook.He has done that daily since the beginning of training camp, developing a bit of a personal mantra that has helped enhance his determination and focus along the way.

Every player has a role. Define your role.

His motivation to do that finally crossed paths with opportunity in San Francisco on Sunday when, as a nod to Tracy’s versatility, Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell put a wrinkle into the team’s game plan specifically tailored to his skill set.

A breakout game for the linebacker-turned-defensive end resulted in what was an impressive 26-3 victory over the 49ers as Tracy moved back to his natural position of outside linebacker and seized the moment the way Fewell hoped he would.

The Giants mixed things up against San Francisco’s multi-faceted offense, using different looks such as a 4-4-3 alignment featuring Tracy at linebacker and having Mathias Kiwanuka play all but one of his 38 snaps in the game on the defensive line.

While Kiwanuka’s presence at defensive tackle and end – the position he played at Boston College – is something the Giants have tinkered with, even after moving him to linebacker last season, Tracy’s emergence in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship game spoke volumes about his potential.

“You keep seeing this big body in the meeting room and you say you’ve got to use the talent that you have in your room,” Fewell said of the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Tracy. “We just thought that if we created this role for him … we could gain some mileage. So he dropped a little bit, he rushed a little bit. … We would like to do some things like that with him going forward.”

Tracy played 12 snaps and finished with four tackles and a sack against the 49ers, carving out a niche for himself and in the process showing the Giants he can be more than a one-week wonder. With LB Jacquian Williams declared out for Sunday’s pivotal NFC East showdown against the Redskins, there is a chance Tracy will be asked to contribute in several different areas as the Giants attempt to stop rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III.

“They said they had that role for me and needed me to step up, and I did just that,” Tracy said of his performance against the 49ers. “I was put in that spot and told to make something happen. Obviously they gave me the opportunity to be out there on the field and I had to make the most of that opportunity. I knew my assignment at linebacker, run and pass, and it was just about going out there and playing.

“I was able to do that, make some plays and I was excited.”

Tracy was on the field against the 49ers primarily to help neutralize the run, which the Giants did in stunning fashion by shutting down Frank Gore and option quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The challenge will be even greater against Griffin III and rookie running back Alfred Morris, who have rushed for 917 combined yards – more than 29 other teams.

“We had a package where [Tracy] was ‘the guy’ and he did well,” Justin Tuck said. “This is something I hope that he can build on.”

Tracy has displayed patience this season, waiting for his chance behind the Giants’ assembly line of Pro Bowl ends Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora, not to mention Kiwanuka, who joined the mix on a more consistent basis.

“It’s not frustrating. I’m behind the best of the best at that position,” Tracy said. “And then you throw Kiwi in the mix, that’s makes five. So it’s not something that’s frustrating. I’m in a position where I’m able to learn from Pro Bowlers. I’m going to learn from seasoned veterans and soak up information you can’t get from X’s and O’s.

“I’m always in the guys’ ears and right now I’ve got to realize my position. When I’m needed, I’ll be ready. Until then, I’ll continue to learn and get better.”